Did Stephane Dion force Jean Lapierre out as a preemptive move against Justin Trudeau?
Jean Lapierre announced his resignation from politics this week, leaving the federal Liberal caucus another vote short, just days after MP Wajid Khan crossed the floor to join the Conservatives.
But these are different cases. Wajid left the Liberals essentially of his own volition. I'm hearing rumblings of rumblings that Lapierre was given the shove out the door by Stephane "Tous Ensemble" Dion**.
But for Dion, this was not only an act of revenge on Lapierre. It was a move against the biggest threat to his leadership, Justin Trudeau.
** "Tous ensemble" is French for "All together", and was the chant at the Liberal leadership convention to show all Liberals uniting behind their new leader. To date, three have very publicly left the party, including two sitting MPs.
Like I said, this is a rumbling of a rumbling, but it makes a lot of sense. Gossip isn't news, though it can be thought-provoking.
First, there is the history between Stephane Dion and Jean Lapierre, as summarized by Paul Wells:
Jean Lapierre announced his retirement from politics. He did it a bit less spectacularly this time: In 1990 he stormed out of a Liberal leadership convention as soon as his preferred candidate, Martin, lost - and within weeks he had helped form the Bloc Quebecois. This time he waited for a few weeks after his only patron and indefatigable admirer, Martin, delivered a farewell speech at another Liberal leadership convention. And instead of making a scene, Lapierre announced his departure on the radio. He will not be forming a political party this time; he'll just work in television.
When Lapierre returned to the Liberal party and to federal politics, almost exactly three years ago, the Sheila Fraser audit that launched Adscam hadn't been unveiled; the Paul Martin Liberals enjoyed a solid polling lead; and the world seemed fresh and new. The Liberals' prospects in Quebec seemed boundless. Lapierre's job was to wander around the province, hoovering up ridings previously held by the Bloc Quebecois.
Lapierre cheerfully set about recruiting candidates who had never stood up for Canada - at one news conference he unveiled seven, whose unifying characteristic was that they used to be Bloc or Parti Quebecois members - and purging some of the other kind.
In St. Laurent-Cartierville, Lapierre recruited a Lebanese-Canadian journalist as the party's standard-bearer for a riding with a large Arab population and began organizing to take the riding away from the incumbent, Stephane Dion. (When that move became controversial, Lapierre abandoned the effort.)
So Lapierre had put a hit out on Dion's political future. It was called off, but only because of the uproar. Could Dion forgive something like this?
Then Lapierre's shine wore off, and Paul Martin, who had purged Dion from cabinet in favour of Lapierre, turned to Dion for help:
On the tenth anniversary of the 1995 referendum, Martin telephoned Stephane Dion and asked him to write some newspaper op-eds about the evolution of Canada in the intervening decade. It was an odd request, given that Martin's handpicked lieutenant had only recently targeted Dion for elimination - but really, to whom could Martin turn? Lapierre has always refused to say how he voted in 1995. The secret ballot is a right every Canadian enjoys, but it did make Lapierre an awkward standard-bearer.
Hardly a recipe for a good working relationship.
Then Dion wins the Liberal leadership (Lapierre would never reveal who he supported for Liberal leader, just as he never revealed how he voted in the 1995 Quebec referedum on separation), and Lapierre bolts from the party.
Of course, the official story -- Lapierre had long planned to leave, and that this was Lapierre's idea -- is consistent with the facts as we know them.
But then there are the rumblings...
If indeed Dion pushed Lapierre out of the Liberal Party, you have to wonder why now? Wajid Khan has just bolted to the Conservatives, so two high profile caucus losses would look bad. Of course, Mark Persaud has since left, so now we're up to three Liberals gone (it should be noted that Persaud was not an MP but a senior party executive).
For that we have to consider who will run in Lapierre's place.
The rumour mill is abuzz that Justin Trudeau, son of Pierre Elliot Trudeau, is mulling over a run.
A Trudeau in caucus would be a major headache for Dion. Dion's support from the Quebec caucus was thin at best, and his command of English is poor, and potentially a liability. Justin, on the other hand, is young and comes from a spotless Liberal pedigree. The Trudeau name might be a tough sell in some parts of Quebec, but it is known, and you can't buy that sort of publicity. He's photogenic and flawlessly bilingual.
Justin did support Dion in the leadership campaign after Trudeau's first choice, Gerard Kennedy, dropped out. I'm sure Dion was grateful for the powerful endorsement, but that's in the past. And certainly that gratitude does not extend to having a Trudeau in caucus:
Pierre Trudeau's eldest son joined the Liberal riding association in the relatively safe riding of Outremont about two months ago, Montreal's La Presse newspaper reported.
But it appears some Liberals are opposed to the idea of seeing the former prime minister's son run for the seat, the newspaper added.
La Presse reports that Liberal leader Stephane Dion was planning on reserving the riding for high-profile candidates who could help the rebuild the party's support in Quebec.
According to the newspaper, Dion has made it clear to some Liberals that the 35-year-old Trudeau is not the star candidate he was seeking.
Trudeau rubs a lot of Liberals the wrong way:
"Neither the young Liberals nor the older ones want to have anything to do with him," said one anonymous Liberal on whom La Presse bestowed the status of "trustworthy."
"What has Trudeau done that's so marvelous to earn him a riding like that one?" another said, while a third claimed that "some members are saying they won't work with a candidate whose dream is to grace of the cover of a [celebrity gossip rag]."
The same day, Le Soleil's Michel C. Auger wrote on his blog that Trudeau simply lacks the intellectual fortitude to join Dion's team - taking particular exception to a Radio-Canada interview in which Trudeau suggested he didn't need to spend a lifetime developing his political ideas because his father "gave them to us ready-made."
Well, that's convenient. Trudeau-ina-bottle. Just add one safe riding and serve.
So how does this feed into the timing of Lapierre's departure?
Jason Cherniak almost gets it right:
By resigning sooner rather than later, Lapierre gives Brigitte Legault an advantage over Justin Trudeau in a nomination race.
No, Jason, Lapierre did not give Legault an advantage. Dion delivered that gift. Or delivered that dagger thrust. Depending on whether you support Legault or Trudeau.
So Dion sees Trudeau maneauvering to make a run for parliament. He knows Lapierre is on the way out -- Lapierre is not a welcome member of the Dion caucus and Lapierre knows it. Trudeau lives in the riding adjoining Lapierre's, making it an ideal riding for Trudeau to run for (Trudeau's home riding of Mount Royal is represented by Liberal heavyweight Irwin Cotler, and despite rumblings from Cotler about the Liberal stand on Israel -- Irwin Cotler's wife, Ariela, very publicly resigned from the Liberal Party over it -- there is no indication right now that Irwin Cotler is preparing to leave).
What Trudeau needs is time to build up a strong enough support base among the riding Liberals to take the nomination should the riding become open, even in the face of opposition of Stephane Dion and the Liberal Party brass. By pushing Lapierre out, not only does Dion enjoy some personal revenge (while hiding behind Lapierre's public statements that his time in politics was coming to an end), he cuts Trudeau off at the knees, unable to mount an effective nomination challenge against Dion's handpicked candidate, whoever that turns out to be.
So this hint of a rumour I'm hearing seems to make sense. The rumour that Dion pushed Lapierre out fits the facts, and indeed, fits better since it ties in a number of other threads as well.
But it's just gossip right now, and will likely remain so unless someone goes on record.
Addendum: Warren Kinsella had this to say:
I also know something else: Stephane Dion needs to condemn - right now, right out in the open - the people who are attempting to smear Justin anonymously. That's the old Martin-era way of doing things. The Liberal Party doesn't need to see it starting all over again - to Justin Trudeau or anyone else.
Of course, if Stephane Dion is behind some of this... Of course, this story is coming from yet another one of those anonymous sources.
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Comments
"To date, three have very publicly left the party, including two sitting MPs."
Khan and...who? Can you confirm that Lapierre has left the Liberal Party of Canada? Or are you lying again? MPs quit and retire all the time, it does't mean they have left the party.
"Then Lapierre's shine wore off, and Paul Martin, who had purged Dion from cabinet in favour of Lapierre, turned to Dion for help:"
Wrong, Dion served with Lapierre in Martin's cabinet, Lapierre was Transport Min and Dion was Environment:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/martin_paul/cabinet2004.html
Your claims that Dion pushed out Lapierre are unsupported in fact. You make other serious errors in this post which reflect poorly on Conservatives and bloggers, I don't have time to point them out but I'm sure Canadian Cynic does :-)
Steve Janke:
Crushing the credibility and reputation of Conservatives and bloggers since 2004.
Posted by: You Suck Steve at January 13, 2007 11:01 AM
Interesting muse Angry and as usual some info I hadn't known.
If Pierre Trudeau was looking to extend his political dynasty into the next generation then he should have made a better choice for the genetic content of his kids than Margaret Sinclair.
Now I'm no fan of PET's and I'm all in favor of bulldozing his crypt and renaming Montreal's airport but that just ain't gonna happen.
However young Trudeau has inherited too much of his mother's flakiness and new age angst and not enough of his old man's cunning to even be a serious contender on the leadership trail.
Then again anything can happen in the Demented Dominion.
Pierre was always too self absorbed to see much beyond his impish countenance in a mirror and the times being as they were then,I imagine Margaret and her hip youth, appeared a good prop for the image.
Unfortunately the little brains,too much emotion and indescision of his mother has come home to roost in varying degrees in the prodigal son.
Posted by: Simon at January 13, 2007 11:15 AM
Not so much wrong as inexact. Dion was dumped in 2003. It was shortly thereafter that Lapierre was named as Martin's Quebec Lt. That he was later invited back into cabinet does not change what happened.
Posted by: PB at January 13, 2007 11:53 AM
Seems like you have struck a nerve with the Liberal tribe, as they have that stench of fear on them. Denials and puffed out chests touting Poof Poof Dion as their saviour of the month. Once a bit more light is cast on this scabby corpse known at the LPC, the better informed these Eastern metro-sexuals will be and move to a real national leader.
Posted by: view from the West at January 13, 2007 12:00 PM
I'm not so sure that those "eastern metro sexers" have enough vision to see anything beyond their next immediate want.
Posted by: Simon at January 13, 2007 12:20 PM
This could be a fun race, if it turns out to be that.
JT developped quite the reputation in the Montreal bar scene. Not what you'd expect. His Liberal opponents will bring it up, and if they don't and JT wins, we sure will.
Part of me hopes that JT wins that nomination.
Posted by: Civitatensis at January 13, 2007 01:44 PM
The fact that the anyone in the LPC is EVEN considering Justin Trudeau as a candidate is a seriouis blight on the Party.
Justin Trudeau has no gravitas and, except for being a Trudeau, seems to have no long-lasting or serious track record or ties with the Party.
He's a party boy, he likes to preen, he likes to brag about his Trudeau-ness, he's got a trophy-Sophie-wife on his arm, and he drives his dad's old, vintage-I-guess, Mercedes.
So, what's there to vote for? What would Justin Trudeau ever be able to do for his consituents, seeing as he lives in an alternative universe to them? What would Justin Trudeau contribute to the LPC caucus, except more hair-brained, new-age, watch-me Trudopy-an shenanigans, something they definitely don't need at this juncture in their history.
Except that the LPC and Trudeau himself seem to be serious about his runnning for a seat in the HOC, I'd say this is the non-story of the year.
Posted by: 'been around the block at January 13, 2007 03:29 PM
funny that if the goal is to save canada, his dad's raison d'etre, maybe he should run for provincial politics. As premier of quebec he can hand all of quebecs powers back....
Posted by: Stephen at January 13, 2007 06:16 PM
Interesting, a number of the comments about why the boy Trudeau is not a good choice for the LPC is exactly why his father was a good choice. An outsider, not a party loyalist, strong federalist, not well loved in Quebec, looks good in front of a camera. As for policies, isn't that what the party for?
Posted by: jgriffin at January 13, 2007 08:10 PM
jgriffin: 'You serious? PET was a good choice?
Well, he got chosen by his party to be their leader, but look where he took Canada: into the gutter.
These are different times, with different needs. I can't think that the qualities Justin has in common with his father make him the man of the hour this time.
BTW, I never thought PET was the man of the hour either. I never voted for him or his party.
Posted by: 'been around the block at January 14, 2007 09:05 AM
"Khan and...who? Can you confirm that Lapierre has left the Liberal Party of Canada? Or are you lying again? MPs quit and retire all the time, it does't mean they have left the party."
-Posted by "You suck Steve"( or his/her handler anyway)
Resigning from a position as an MP does infer this. Particularly considering the history. If you need it in big block letters than politics is just not for you. I believe an apology is on order? Hein?
Posted by: Eric-Vancouver at January 14, 2007 11:57 AM
An outsider [a silver-spoon nitwit with no experience and no accomplishments] not a party loyalist [will happily stab anyone in the back to get to the top] strong federalist [have the feds put out 30,000 more requisitions for bureaucrats ... and put the army on alert in case anyone complains] not well loved in Quebec [in overall numbers sure, but he's huge with Quebec's leftist ideologues, urban poofs and 60-year-old hippies] looks good in front of a camera [just don't think of all the money that was ripped out of your paycheque riding around in his hip pocket, or you'll be lucky not to ralph all over the TV set] As for policies, isn't that what the party for? [he has no experience, no loyalty, no roots, a lust for centralized power and a miniscule core constituency ... but let's just let the question of where he spends billions of dollars of the public's money sort itself out ... mkay?]
Posted by: at January 14, 2007 11:45 PM
Does Justin earn income from any source, other than the massively government-endowed Trudeau Foundation? Has he ever done anything of consequence since birth? He is the Barrack Obama of Canadian politics...except even Obama has something of consequence (House and Senate election victories) behind him.
The PET legacy...looking sadder and sadder all the time.
Posted by: NCF TO at January 16, 2007 01:06 AM
I came of age in 1968 when Trudeaumania was sweeping the country. The campaign took on a life of its own, where politics had nothing to do with the election. It was all media, celebrity worship, a frenzy of adulation and heart-throb. Pierre was the media star, and his campaign was very much a
Hollywood show that played to a new young generation of voters that was growing up with flower power and Vietnam. No matter that the country woke up with a bad hangover (and too many metaphors) a few years later.
We have the Imperial son with media fed delusions, a media looking for a prince, and the LPC directorship that has just experienced a leadership convention gone horribly wrong. Dion was not meant to lead this team, and no matter how much spin you put on him, he is painful to watch and listen. So yes, the Conscript Justin campaign is well underway and Dion has to suffer with the Chretien and Martin battle redux.
History will repeat itself in so many ways.
Posted by: john at January 17, 2007 12:35 AM
Another pussy of Qannaddian Politics, trying to weasel his way into a CASH-FOR-LIFE job, on the coattails of poor old dead pappy. May be we don't look upon Pierre Turdeau, with quite the same sentiment, as this little offspring of his.
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at January 24, 2007 11:07 AM
 
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